MARIETTA - New figures released in June by the U.S. Census Bureau show that Cobb County and its six cities have continued to grow from 2010 to 2012, despite a sluggish economy. Residents say they aren't surprised by the news.

"The area we live in is close to the Marietta Square, Kennesaw Mountain (National) Battlefield Park and Kennesaw State University and is a short drive to downtown Atlanta," said Amber Parks Durbin of Marietta. "How could it be more perfect? We love it here."

According to the 2012 Census estimates, Cobb County and the six cities have all experienced growth since 2010. Cobb went from 688,076 residents to 707,442, which is about a 2.8 percent increase. That's a slightly faster rate of growth than the entire state experienced, at 2.4 percent over the same period. ...

History of population growth in Cobb

KSU professor Tom Scott has kept a close eye on the county's growth and development since moving to Cobb in 1968. He wrote about it in his book "Cobb County, Georgia and the Origins of the Suburban South: A Twentieth-Century History." It didn't surprise him that Cobb continues to grow year after year.

"The fundamental reasons why this area has grown is because it is very affordable compared to practically any other metropolitan area, low taxes, good schools, dynamic universities, relatively low crime, good parks, good recreational areas and high quality of life," the Marietta resident said.

Since 2000, the county has increased by about 8,000 residents a year, but that is nothing compared to the boom of the 1990s when Cobb's population increased by 34 percent.

"We've definitely slowed down from the '90s," he said. "At any rate, it's been a nice place to be."

Scott said he's also encouraged by the diversity of Cobb's population, and pointed to Census data that shows approximately 26 percent of Cobb residents are black and almost 5 percent are Asian.

"That's been positive in a lot of ways," he said. "I think we have a lot to brag about in terms of our diversity."

We are what America ought to be in Cobb County ... there is no reason in the world that people wouldn't move to Cobb County."